Hrísey, Iceland

Why Hrísey works so well as a residency base

Hrísey is a small island in Eyjafjörður, off the north coast of Iceland, not far from Akureyri. Think: one village, a short ferry ride, and a lot of sky, water, and bird calls. For residency life, the appeal is simple: quiet, nature, and enough infrastructure that you can work comfortably without constant distraction.

The island is known for its calm atmosphere and strong sense of place. Instead of a dense art scene or nightlife, you get:

• Long stretches of focused studio or writing time
• Fjord and mountain views out the window
• Birdlife and walking trails as your “commute”
• A small community you actually get to know
• Easy access to the mainland via a short ferry

If you want somewhere to crank out a draft of a book, build a new body of work, or simply reset your practice in a slower environment, Hrísey is built for that.

The core residency: Old School Art House (Gamli Skóli)

When people talk about artist residencies on Hrísey, they are usually talking about one place: the Old School Art House, also referred to as The Old School – Hrísey or Gamli Skóli.

It’s housed in the village’s former school building and run by the art group Nordanbal as a non-profit, sustainability-minded residency. The focus is on giving artists quiet time and a basic, supportive environment to work and meet others.

Who the Old School is for

The residency is open to artists working in pretty much any medium:

• Visual artists (painting, drawing, photography, textiles, sculpture, etc.)
• Writers and poets
• Performing artists and movement-based practices
• Sound, film, and interdisciplinary practices

The key is that you need to be able to work with light infrastructure. This is not a media lab or fabrication workshop. It’s more of a live–work, studio-house model with space, quiet, and internet, but no heavy equipment.

What you get: facilities and setup

The Old School is structured like a shared house with room to work. Based on residency listings and artist reports, you can expect:

• Four bedrooms – separate sleeping spaces for individual artists or small groups
• Shared work area/studio – workspace for roughly three people or small teams
• Living room + kitchen – a combined space for cooking, eating, and informal meetings
• Bathroom and shower
• Washing machine – helpful for longer stays
• Library – books and reference materials to dip into
• Wi-Fi – wireless internet for research, calls, and digital work

It’s intentionally simple. Think big school building repurposed for small groups of artists, rather than luxury design retreat. That simplicity is part of the charm: less noise, more time and space.

What it does not provide

The residency clearly states it does not offer technical or specialized facilities. Plan accordingly if your practice usually needs:

• Printmaking presses
• Darkroom or analog photo equipment
• Ceramic kilns or glass facilities
• Wood, metal, or industrial fabrication tools
• Professional recording studios or editing suites

You’ll want to either adapt your practice for a more portable setup (sketching, writing, digital work, maquettes) or bring compact tools you can safely use in a shared house/studio environment.

Daily rhythm at the residency

Artists who have stayed in Hrísey often describe a gentle, focused daily rhythm:

• Morning: coffee, quiet studio work, writing, or reading with fjord light coming in
• Midday: walk around the island, visit the tiny store, swim, or sketch outside
• Afternoon: longer, uninterrupted work blocks
• Evening: shared meals, conversations with other artists, or solo time

Because there are only a few residents at a time, it’s easy to balance solitude and simple communal life. You can head to your room to be alone, then join others in the kitchen or studio when you want company.

The island itself: living, walking, and working

Hrísey is small enough that you quickly learn your way around, but large enough that you can walk for an hour or two and still find new perspectives and atmospheres.

Village services and basic amenities

Hrísey is a working village with a few practical essentials:

• Local shop / post office – your go-to for groceries, basics, and mail
• Restaurant – opening hours can be limited; don’t rely on it as your only food source
• Swimming pool – a small geothermal pool that quickly becomes part of your self-care routine
• Harbor area – ferry connection and a nice place to watch weather and light shift

All of this is clustered around the village area on the southern part of the island, so nothing is a long walk from the Old School house.

Nature, trails, and fieldwork

Hrísey is known for its birdlife and walking routes. Artists often use these trails as daily practices:

• Marked routes ranging roughly from short walks to a couple hours
• Birdwatching – including ptarmigan and many other species
• Views across Eyjafjörður to snow-capped mountains

The northern part of the island is a privately owned nature reserve. Access is restricted, so if your project genuinely requires going into that area, you need permission from the landowner. For most artists, the open routes and village surroundings offer more than enough material.

The landscape lends itself well to:

• Site-specific drawing, painting, or photography
• Sound recording and listening-based practices
• Eco-focused research and writing
• Performance scores and movement studies

Seasonal atmosphere

Different seasons will shape your residency experience quite strongly.

• Spring and summer: long days, easier walking, more birds, and more outdoor work time.
• Autumn: softer light, fewer visitors, and often a deeper sense of introspection for studio work.
• Winter: short days, potentially challenging weather, and heightened isolation. Great for concentrated indoor work and atmospheric research if you’re comfortable with storms and darkness.

Match the season to the emotional and practical needs of your project. If your work relies on outdoor fieldwork, light, and color, then the brighter months will be much more forgiving. If your project thrives on quiet, interiority, and slow time, shoulder seasons or winter can be very powerful.

Local art ecosystem: what actually happens here

Hrísey is not a gallery district. Instead, think residency-centered, low-key, and community-linked.

Art presence and community

On the island itself, the arts are mostly connected to:

• Visiting artists staying at the Old School
• Informal gatherings and shared meals
• Occasional workshops or activities with local residents
• End-of-residency sharings, open studios, or small exhibitions

Because the population is small, it’s easy to talk with locals who are curious about what you’re doing. This often leads to:

• Conversations that shape projects in unexpected ways
• Portraiture, documentary, or storytelling work grounded in the place
• Collaborations with community members, including children or local groups

You’re not competing with a packed event calendar, so any public-facing event you host will likely stand out and be appreciated.

Connection to Akureyri and beyond

For galleries, institutions, and a broader art network, you look to Akureyri and, more distantly, Reykjavík. Artists sometimes use Hrísey to:

• Develop work and then show it later on the mainland
• Research and prototype projects that later shift into more formal exhibition contexts
• Build relationships that lead to talks or presentations off-island

Think of Hrísey as the studio and lab, not necessarily the final stage. If you want gallery exposure during the same trip, plan extra time in Akureyri, and research venues there before you travel.

Logistics: getting there, getting around, and budgeting

How you actually reach Hrísey

The standard route looks like this:

• Fly into Iceland (often Reykjavík or Akureyri, depending on your route).
• Travel overland to Akureyri if you’re not already there.
• Continue by road to Ásskógssandur, the ferry point.
• Take the ferry to Hrísey. The ride is short, around 15 minutes.

Ferry timetables change by season, so you’ll want to check current times before you book tight connections. Weather can also affect schedules. When in doubt, build buffer time into your arrival and departure days, and coordinate timing with the residency hosts.

Movement on the island

Once you’re on Hrísey, transport is simple:

• Walking – the main way to get around; distances are short
• Biking – useful if you want to explore quickly or carry gear

You don’t need a car on the island itself. A car can be useful on the mainland if you plan research trips or fieldwork beyond Hrísey, but that’s separate from daily life on the island.

Costs and budgeting as an artist

Iceland is generally not cheap, and Hrísey is no exception, even though the residency model is non-profit.

• Accommodation and studio: often covered through residency fees or support. Always confirm what the Old School offers at the time you apply.
• Food: groceries tend to be more expensive than many artists are used to, especially if you’re coming from lower-cost countries. Cooking at home is key.
• Travel: flights within and to Iceland, plus road travel and the ferry, add up. Plan these as major budget items.
• Extras: occasional meals out, art supplies, printing, or side trips to Akureyri.

If your residency doesn’t include a stipend, it helps to arrive with a clear budget. Many artists find that keeping most meals home-cooked and limiting paid activities keeps things manageable.

Visas, paperwork, and practical prep

Visa basics

Iceland is part of the Schengen Area. Depending on your nationality, you may or may not need a visa for short stays. Many visitors can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa; others must apply in advance.

Because rules are different for each passport, always verify your situation with:

• The Icelandic Directorate of Immigration website
• The Icelandic embassy or consulate in your country
• The residency organizers, who can usually provide an invitation letter

If you’ll receive a stipend, work on a commissioned project, or stay for a long period, ask whether your stay is considered tourism, cultural visit, or work. This can change what kind of permission you need.

Preparing your practice for Hrísey

To make the most of a residency here:

• Adapt your materials: choose tools and media that travel well and don’t rely on heavy equipment.
• Plan for limited shopping: specialty art materials may not be easy to find locally. Bring what you need or arrange delivery in advance.
• Think in phases: use Hrísey for research, prototyping, and early production, then plan finishing or fabrication later in a better-equipped studio.
• Have a flexible project frame: leave space in your proposal for the weather, light, and community to influence the work.

What kinds of artists thrive here

Hrísey rewards artists who are comfortable with quiet and open time. It’s especially supportive for:

• Painters and drawers who want concentrated, studio-heavy days
• Writers and poets who need deep focus
• Sound artists interested in field recording and listening
• Filmmakers working on small-scale shoots, research, or editing
• Performance and movement artists creating scores, rehearsals, or intimate video work
• Researchers and artists working with ecology, place, or community
• Interdisciplinary artists who like to let site, weather, and local stories shape the work

If you need constant cultural events, nightlife, or a big peer group, Hrísey will probably feel too quiet. If you’re craving a reset, time to think, and a landscape that will get under your skin, this island can be incredibly productive.

Practical next steps

To move from idea to actual residency time on Hrísey:

• Research the Old School Art House via listings like TransArtists or Res Artis.
• Check the most recent details on facilities, fees, and expectations directly from the organizers.
• Map your travel route, including flights, buses or car to Ásskógssandur, and the ferry.
• Build a budget that accounts for higher food and travel costs than you might be used to.
• Shape a project proposal that genuinely uses Hrísey’s strengths: nature, quiet, and community scale.

Use Hrísey as a place to think longer thoughts, take slower walks, and make work that actually needs time. The island will meet you there.